Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play La Carcacha on piano
Written by A.B. Quintanilla III & Pete Astudillo
- Eb major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- I–bVII–I–bVII loop
- 1992
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn La Carcacha in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Eb – Db – Eb – Db
How it goes
La Carcacha sits in Eb major: Eb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Eb is Eb, G and Bb; Db is Db, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EbIDbbVIIEbIDbbVII- EbEb · G · Bb
- DbDb · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Yo-yo bounce
How it goes
A long high root, a dip down, and back up like a yo-yo. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sprint-and-stop chords
How it goes
Four quick chords in the first half, then a calm, empty second half. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Eb – Db – Eb
How it goes
The last chords are I – bVII – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbDbEb
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Questions about La Carcacha
What chords are in La Carcacha?
The loop is Eb – Db – Eb – Db (I – bVII – I – bVII) in Eb major, and the song ends on Eb – Db – Eb.
What key is La Carcacha in?
Eb major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in La Carcacha?
Yo-yo bounce: broken chord 8-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is La Carcacha easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.